How to Fit Exercise Into a Busy Lifestyle – Client Spotlight, Nadja Mencin

How to Fit Exercise Into a Busy Lifestyle – Client Spotlight, Nadja Mencin

How to Fit Exercise Into a Busy Lifestyle – Client Spotlight, Nadja Mencin

For Nadja Mencin’s crazy busy life, Vertex Fitness was the perfect fit. As a fourth year medical student of Drexel University set to graduate in May, Nadja will be focusing on physical rehabilitation at a facility in the Bronx, helping folks with spinal cord injuries and stroke recovery. Because of her background in medicine, she knew exactly how important fitness was to her life—but where to fit exercise into a busy lifestyle?

“I’m one of four kids, and an older med student at 29. Before med school I taught English, and then worked at an animal refuge in Bolivia. I eventually found medicine, and part of that was wanting to help people and wanting to help folks enjoy life and get the most out of it. Rehab is about getting someone to the new normal to get the most out of life that they can. I looked at myself and decided that I had to practice what I preach, but being really busy, at med school and then studying at home, I decided to do something that could get me in shape efficiently and help me do better at the fitness things that I was interested in.

We all struggle with what’s going to work for us, because there’s so much out there for fitness. There’s so many things saying, “try me”, “try me”. That’s what makes Vertex so special–it’s 30 minutes, it’s super effective, and you start seeing results from just those 30 minutes.”

Fitness and activity were already a big part of Nadja’s life and interests, as she spins, runs, practices Pilates, and takes boot camp fitness classes. The strength training at Vertex helped her enjoy doing all of these things safely and effectively, and not be intimidated by anything.

That’s what made the difference for Nadja. She was looking for a way to do strength training, because she already knew about its benefits, but she didn’t expect to be able to do it.

“I ended up adding muscle to my body even though I’m physically smaller, but for years I assumed I had the body type that simply couldn’t. I thought I was just going to be one of those people who were going to be fast but not strong, even if I lifted weights.

I thought I’d give it a try even though I didn’t expect any results, because I thought only other people were strong. I was surprised that I was able to get stronger. I can do pushups on my toes now! One day I just found that I could do it.”

When Nadja first sought out Vertex Fitness in November of 2016, she wanted to try strength training but didn’t know how to start in a way that would be both safe and effective.

“I was looking for a way to do strength training. You want to push yourself, you want to be lifting weights that are challenging for you, but I didn’t want to go into a gym and just start lifting and hurt myself. It’s hard to know, how much is too heavy? What’s the right amount of weight?”

The trainers at Vertex Fitness start you out conservatively and work you up to your ability with form being the emphasis at first. This helps you discover what your boundaries are safely.

According to Nadja, “I trust them to know what I can do when they say “two more”. I wanted to learn how to do this, and do it in an efficient way, and I wanted to do it safely.

Even for people who are self-conscious in the gym, it’s great to get your introduction with personal training. It’s very one-on-one, and there’s usually only a few others there. You don’t know what you’re lifting compared to other people, you’re just doing your personal best and getting stronger.”

In just the short time since she’s been working out at Vertex Fitness, Nadja has seen results, just from a thirty-minute workout twice a week.

“I definitely feel like my arms are a lot more toned, and my legs are as well. I just have more of a shape than I did before. The biggest change is that I notice that everything I do, I enjoy more. I enjoy sprinting a lot more, I enjoy boot camp and yoga a lot more, I just have more to give.

My knees used to hurt all the time, but now that my quads are stronger, there is not as much strain on my knees. I feel like I’m in the best shape I have ever been. I’m 29 and I was an athlete in my early 20’s, and I feel like I am stronger than I was then.”

For someone who wants to try strength training but doesn’t think that they have the type of body that can get strong, Nadja has this advice to give:

“Saying ‘I just can’t do strength training’ is not something you can say if you’ve never tried it. I think society tells us that. Guys go to the gym, and girls do the elliptical. You can take a lot of your life back by doing strength training and spending less time working out.

Strength training is the foundation to doing everything else. You can do that yoga move you were never able to do because you didn’t have the upper body strength. Vertex Fitness is a no-intimidation zone, because you are only competing against yourself. It’s not just athletes that go there, it’s all different ages and all different fitness levels.

If you’re strapped for time and want an efficient workout that will get results, I would recommend Vertex Fitness to fit exercise into a busy lifestyle. I can’t think of any other training program that you can do for 30 minutes and still get results. I was doing it only once a week at first, and now I choose to do two a week.”

Request a complimentary first session at Vertex Fitness, Voted the BEST Personal Training Studio on the Main LineClick HERE and we will schedule a session to try it yourself

Dwayne Wimmer founded Vertex Fitness Personal Training Studio in 2001, excited to bring a new concept about personal training to the people of Philadelphia’s Main Line in Pennsylvania. Driven by knowledge and results both, while a strength coach at Villanova University, he worked closely with world class athletes such as Brian Westbrook, formerly of the Philadelphia Eagles, on strength training and conditioning for optimal performance. Dwayne’s client base extends much further than world class athletes. Along with athletes, he works with adolescents to seniors, and he’s a highly acclaimed and sought out personal trainer who has received numerous awards, such as Best of the Main Line Personal Training Studio and Best Main Line Personal Trainer.
Through efforts and a driving passion to bring the “professional” to the fitness industry, Dwayne co-founded the Fitness Leaders Alliance in 2013, which is an organization dedicated to the training of more highly qualified personal trainers. Its focus is on ethical business practices, scientifically proven methods, and the realization that continuous learning is important in the fitness industry.
A graduate of Missouri Western State University, Dwayne has a Bachelor of Science degree in Physical Education, with an emphasis in Coaching. Aside from personal training, he’s spent time as a physical education teacher, strength and conditioning coach, and a football coach, but has found his passion and home in the fitness industry, inspiring and reaching out to others. As a strong believer in continuing to learn, Dwayne has also taken classes at East Stroudsburg University toward a Masters Degree in Sports Management.
Since June of 2013, Dwayne has co-hosted the podcast, “The Fitness Professional Show.” This provides a wonderful platform to help with his goals of creating a more professional fitness industry. And now, he can add author to his list of accomplishments, having created a chapter in the upcoming book The Soul of Success with Jack Canfield, renowned for the Chicken Soup series.
To get to the point where he is now, Dwayne has always been thankful for the support of his father, a man who always believed in his mission and saw the need for what it was that Dwayne envisioned. During his free time, Dwayne is an avid motorcyclist who enjoys viewing the amazing landscapes and finding good restaurants to enjoy that are off the beaten path. He also takes advantage of opportunities to travel and experience many other cities while attending fitness seminars and giving presentations about the industry he is so passionate about. As a way to give back to the community that has been a part of his entire life, Dwayne has created Vertex Fitness PUMPED (People United Making Progress through Education and Donations), which provides support to area non-profits through a community-wide outreach effort. At this time, they help three non-profits per year in the Philadelphia area.
For more information from Dwayne, you may contact him at (610) 525-6604, dwayne@vertexfit.com, or visit www.FitnessLeadersAlliance.com.